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YOUR WASHINGTON
AND YOU!
A WEEKLY
REPORT from
KARL MUNDT
SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA
"FOR A FAIR CHANCE FOR A FREE PEOPLE"
VOLUME XVIII (1956) NUMBER 18 - FOR RELEASE MAY 9 OR AFTER
A CORRECTION ON HIGHWAY PLANS. Many South Dakotans have
written me in recent weeks expressing their comments,
opinions and ideas with regard to the forthcoming Highway
legislation being discussed in Congress. In my reply, I
stated that the Senate probably would not get another chance
to debate the matter (it passed a Highway Bill last year)
and said that the House-approved Bill (passed this year)
would be reconciled with the Senate version in a Conference
Committee.
However, I have since learned that the House Bill will now be considered by the Senate
Public Works and the Senate Finance Committees before being brought out for a vote by the
entire Senate. Therefore, I invite Newsletter readers to send to me their viewpoints which
I may consider before the time comes for the final voting on this very important Highway
legislation--a matter that is vital to the national welfare.
###
JAYCEES FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT. It is always pleasant to welcome South Dakotans who are working toward good Government, so I enjoyed meeting Paul Hammerquist of Rapid City who attended
a national Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting here last week. As Chairman of the Government
Affairs Committee, Paul was awarded an expense-paid trip to Washington for the good work
done by the live-wire Rapid City Jaycee organization on behalf of the Hoover Commission
proposals on Government reorganization.
While here, Paul attended many briefings, conferences, and seminars arranged by the
National Jaycee Headquarters for the delegate from each of the 48 States who had done the
most toward getting public opinion behind the Hoover plan. I was pleased to be a Jaycee
guest and attend with Paul the highlight event--a breakfast banquet featuring former President Herbert Hoover as speaker—and to join with the Jaycees of South Dakota and the nation
in public tribute to the ideas and ideals so ably set forth by this great American.
###
"NEW EMPHASIS ON AGRICULTURE AS A GROWTH INDUSTRY" (see other side of this Newsletter)
###
MORE GOVERNMENT "OUT OF BUSINESS". Last week's Newsletter carried a feature article on
"How the Government is Getting Out of Business" which gave details on the shutdown of 52
Government-owned business operations, with their work now being done by private enterprise
methods. Now as a sequel comes the recent announcement by President Eisenhower that arrangements are made to completely dispose of the 27 Government-owned synthetic rubber producing
plants. He reported that 26 are already in private control, with the last one slated for
sale soon.
They were sold under three conditions (1) for full fair value (2) to insure fair competition (3) to guarantee wartime production. Ike reported all three objectives were
achieved "to a highly satisfactory degree". Thus, taxpayers benefit again by removing
these from the Government payroll to companies that pay taxes and thereby ease the burden
for individuals.
###
MORE POWER FROM OAHE? The possibility that one or two more electric power generators may
be added to Oahe Dam was mentioned here when I questioned Brig. Gen. W. E. Potter, Chief
of the U.S. Army Engineers, during his appearance before the Senate Appropriations Public
Works Subcommittee. General Potter said a "reexamination of engineering and economic factors" now being carried on may show the need for at least a sixth and possibly a seventh
power generator. They would be the same size as the five 85,000-kilowatt generators now
planned for the dam.
In commenting on this possible power boost, I said "the power needs of South Dakota
are increasing beyond all earlier expectations and predictions. It is my belief that we
should extract from Oahe every kilowatt of available power, since even when Big Bend is
authorized and completed, the steady growth of South Dakota agricultural and industrial
need for power is sure to provide a steady and profitable market for our State's full
share of Missouri River power."
###
FOR DEEP WATER. Looking toward the bright day when Yankton will be the head of Navigation
up from New Orleans, I promised at a Senate Hearing here to make "every effort" to obtain
adequate funds to speed Missouri River channel improvements from Omaha to Sioux City. Even
though a budget request of $5.4 million is contemplated for next year, the work is only
one-third completed. At the present rate, it will take 8 to 10 years to make the 130-mile
stretch fit for minimum navigation.
A navigable channel to Yankton is so important to the industrial and economic development of South Dakota that I am working hard to get this completed as soon as possible!

The work from which this copy was made did not include a formal copyright notice. This work may be protected by U.S. copyright law (Title 17, United States Code), which governs reproduction, distribution, public display, and other uses of protected works. Some uses may be legal with permission from the copyright holder, if the copyright on the work has expired, or if the use is fair use or compliance with the law. All use of DLSD material and content, whether utilized under fair use or used with written permission to publish, must name the Karl E. Mundt Historical & Educational Foundation, Karl E. Mundt Library, Dakota State University, as the original source for the material.

The work from which this copy was made did not include a formal copyright notice. This work may be protected by U.S. copyright law (Title 17, United States Code), which governs reproduction, distribution, public display, and other uses of protected works. Some uses may be legal with permission from the copyright holder, if the copyright on the work has expired, or if the use is fair use or compliance with the law. All use of DLSD material and content, whether utilized under fair use or used with written permission to publish, must name the Karl E. Mundt Historical & Educational Foundation, Karl E. Mundt Library, Dakota State University, as the original source for the material.

Date Digitized

2009-07-06

Transcript

YOUR WASHINGTON
AND YOU!
A WEEKLY
REPORT from
KARL MUNDT
SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA
"FOR A FAIR CHANCE FOR A FREE PEOPLE"
VOLUME XVIII (1956) NUMBER 18 - FOR RELEASE MAY 9 OR AFTER
A CORRECTION ON HIGHWAY PLANS. Many South Dakotans have
written me in recent weeks expressing their comments,
opinions and ideas with regard to the forthcoming Highway
legislation being discussed in Congress. In my reply, I
stated that the Senate probably would not get another chance
to debate the matter (it passed a Highway Bill last year)
and said that the House-approved Bill (passed this year)
would be reconciled with the Senate version in a Conference
Committee.
However, I have since learned that the House Bill will now be considered by the Senate
Public Works and the Senate Finance Committees before being brought out for a vote by the
entire Senate. Therefore, I invite Newsletter readers to send to me their viewpoints which
I may consider before the time comes for the final voting on this very important Highway
legislation--a matter that is vital to the national welfare.
###
JAYCEES FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT. It is always pleasant to welcome South Dakotans who are working toward good Government, so I enjoyed meeting Paul Hammerquist of Rapid City who attended
a national Junior Chamber of Commerce meeting here last week. As Chairman of the Government
Affairs Committee, Paul was awarded an expense-paid trip to Washington for the good work
done by the live-wire Rapid City Jaycee organization on behalf of the Hoover Commission
proposals on Government reorganization.
While here, Paul attended many briefings, conferences, and seminars arranged by the
National Jaycee Headquarters for the delegate from each of the 48 States who had done the
most toward getting public opinion behind the Hoover plan. I was pleased to be a Jaycee
guest and attend with Paul the highlight event--a breakfast banquet featuring former President Herbert Hoover as speaker—and to join with the Jaycees of South Dakota and the nation
in public tribute to the ideas and ideals so ably set forth by this great American.
###
"NEW EMPHASIS ON AGRICULTURE AS A GROWTH INDUSTRY" (see other side of this Newsletter)
###
MORE GOVERNMENT "OUT OF BUSINESS". Last week's Newsletter carried a feature article on
"How the Government is Getting Out of Business" which gave details on the shutdown of 52
Government-owned business operations, with their work now being done by private enterprise
methods. Now as a sequel comes the recent announcement by President Eisenhower that arrangements are made to completely dispose of the 27 Government-owned synthetic rubber producing
plants. He reported that 26 are already in private control, with the last one slated for
sale soon.
They were sold under three conditions (1) for full fair value (2) to insure fair competition (3) to guarantee wartime production. Ike reported all three objectives were
achieved "to a highly satisfactory degree". Thus, taxpayers benefit again by removing
these from the Government payroll to companies that pay taxes and thereby ease the burden
for individuals.
###
MORE POWER FROM OAHE? The possibility that one or two more electric power generators may
be added to Oahe Dam was mentioned here when I questioned Brig. Gen. W. E. Potter, Chief
of the U.S. Army Engineers, during his appearance before the Senate Appropriations Public
Works Subcommittee. General Potter said a "reexamination of engineering and economic factors" now being carried on may show the need for at least a sixth and possibly a seventh
power generator. They would be the same size as the five 85,000-kilowatt generators now
planned for the dam.
In commenting on this possible power boost, I said "the power needs of South Dakota
are increasing beyond all earlier expectations and predictions. It is my belief that we
should extract from Oahe every kilowatt of available power, since even when Big Bend is
authorized and completed, the steady growth of South Dakota agricultural and industrial
need for power is sure to provide a steady and profitable market for our State's full
share of Missouri River power."
###
FOR DEEP WATER. Looking toward the bright day when Yankton will be the head of Navigation
up from New Orleans, I promised at a Senate Hearing here to make "every effort" to obtain
adequate funds to speed Missouri River channel improvements from Omaha to Sioux City. Even
though a budget request of $5.4 million is contemplated for next year, the work is only
one-third completed. At the present rate, it will take 8 to 10 years to make the 130-mile
stretch fit for minimum navigation.
A navigable channel to Yankton is so important to the industrial and economic development of South Dakota that I am working hard to get this completed as soon as possible!